Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Just when we think Spring has arrived in Iowa (70 on Monday), Mother Nature proves us wrong (8 inches of snow on Sunday). So, while I was wallowing in the turn of the weather, I decided to whip up a batch of my Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread for the boys and myself! It’s one we all enjoy because really…who doesn’t enjoy a warm sweet bread loaded with chocolate chips?!

Baking Up Goodness

There seems to be nothing like the smell of freshly baking bread in the oven when you’re dreading the impending snow storm!  We all know there is nothing like snacking on a warm sweet bread straight from the oven either!  There are probably hundreds of pumpkin chocolate chip bread recipes and while mine is nothing unique and there is nothing that sets it aside from the others, it’s pretty dang good, a classic, and super easy to throw together!

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Creamy Parmesan Pork Chops

Creamy Parmesan Pork Chops

Do you ever have a random “ah-ha” moment when trying to figure out what to make for supper, well that’s exactly how these Creamy Parmesan Pork Chops came to be! No need to stand at the grill in the middle of Iowa winter to get a juicy flavorful pork chop with this recipe!

But first, an update!  Life has actually slowed down for our family!  Most of you know by now that we live sports season to sports season during the school year and we are in that happy month-long sabbatical from sports currently!  It’s the down-time between basketball and track! (Don’t worry, our first track meet is March 14th, so it’s literally only a month long!)  This means with less running, we get more time at home, more time together as a family!  T and I spent a warm 4 days in Branson a couple weeks ago.  We took R and a friend to an Iowa State basketball game recently, while M and I have played many games of Skip-Bo!  It’s all been bliss!

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Danna’s Bar-B-Que & Burger Shop: Branson, MO

Danna's Bar-B-Cue

We Love Branson

Who doesn’t love some good barbecue?!  And who doesn’t love a quaint locally owned joint?!  That’s exactly what you get at Danna’s Bar-B-Que & Burger Shop in Branson, MO!  T and I recently returned from a 5 day getaway to Branson! Can you believe we haven’t had a vacation (just the two of us) since our honeymoon over 5 years ago?!  We decided it was time and Branson was an easy choice since we loved it so much last summer!

Picking where to eat when we are on vacation or going on a date can be the longest undertaking!  Usually I’m craving a specific cuisine or I can’t decide at all!  The first night we were in Branson, I left all the picking and deciding up to T!  This doesn’t happen often, so he took advantage of it!

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Diner Night: A Family Tradition

Diner Night: A Family Tradition

Tradition…what does it mean to you?!  To me, it means almost anything centered around my family!  Are you ready for a rare sneak peak at our “at-home” life? It’s fun, I promise! Welcome to Diner Night!  This past weekend we enjoyed Diner Night and I wanted to share it with you because well…it’s so dang fantastic!

I can’t take credit for this tradition, T started this with the boys before I came around, but they welcomed me into this tradition and it’s still one our favorite at home activities. It’s nothing complicated, nothing fancy, but it’s ours and we all love it! Well, T might not enjoy it as much as the rest of uf since he’s the burger and malt guru, but still…

So, what will you need for a diner night?!  You’ll need burgers, french fries or tater tots, and supplies for malts/shakes.  Oh, and don’t forget your fun attitude and a game or two wouldn’t hurt either!

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“Clean” Open-Faced Tuna Melt – A Healthy Alternative

“Clean” Open-Faced Tuna Melt – A Healthy Alternative

I love tuna and could eat it on a very regular basis. Ok, I’ll be honest, I really do eat it pretty regularly and I’ve recently fell in love with the tuna packets that don’t require you to drain the tuna.  And while I know they are more expensive, my time and energy are clearly worth more than that to me! Plus, who can actually successfully drain a can of tuna without losing some down the drain?!

I’m in the middle of another 21 Day Fix round as well as participating in the Live Healthy Iowa 10-Week Wellness Challenge.  Basketball season (hello, concession stand food) as well as my own bad habits have made it more difficult this time around and it’s cold which means I want creamy, gooey, warm foods!  Why are comfort foods so unhealthy?!

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Keeping Your Business Relevant in Today’s Changing World

As a small business owner change is inevitable.  The change may be in your staff, your marketing plan, or even your store set-up and location.  Change is a part of our lives and it seems to be happening faster and more often than ever before.  As a small business owner you have to constantly be on your toes with the ever changing trends!  Here are a few tips to help you focus on how to keep your business relevant in today’s world.

Identify Your Audience – Do you know who the audience of your business is?  Is it teens, 20 something females, middle-age or retired men?  Whoever your audience is, it is important find ways to reach them!  If you aren’t a member of your target audience, talk to them, find out where and how they learn about businesses similar to yours.  Make sure you’re following the trend!

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